Literacy

All areas of the curriculum involve both teachers and pupils in using English. It is the most important means by which we communicate with others. Therefore it is our aim to ensure that we enable all of our pupils to develop the use and understanding of Standard English to their full potential in all aspects of speaking, listening, reading and writing, including spelling and handwriting

Phonics (EYFS and Key Stage 1)

At our school, Phonics is taught daily throughout Foundation and Key Stage 1. We use a structured approach to synthetic phonics, based on 'Letters and Sounds' and 'Read, Write Inc.'

Our approach to phonics uses an integrated synthetic phonics programme to teach both reading and writing. . Progress is assessed every half term and children are grouped accordingly.

Details of the results of the Year 1 Phonics Check can be found below:

School

Local Authority

National

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

No. in cohort

45

46

% at required level

42.2

87

67

74

69

74

Key Stage 2

Through a variety of literacy based units, children are taught the fundamental skills of reading, writing and speaking and listening. Units are based on both fiction and non-fiction writing and novels are often used as a context for a whole unit.

Reading

Reading takes place throughout the school day and learning outcomes linked to reading are taught within literacy and in other areas of the curriculum, where appropriate. During this time children are taught through the use of extracts and whole novels, where teachers and TAs model the reading process. Higher order reading skills, such as inference and deduction are taught, as well as grammatical and punctuation conventions. Poetry and play reading are taught with an awareness of final performance. Analysis and comprehension activities involving “real” texts are used to develop skills in these areas.

Children also take part in 'Mini Missions' in Guided Reading sessions, where the development of specific reading skills is the main focus.

Some children in Key Stage 2 also receive targeted intervention for Literacy (including Phonics, reading and comprehension skills) from a Key Stage 2 Literacy Learning Support Assistant.

Writing

A major focus at Myland Primary is on grammatically accurate and fluent writing. Teachers model the writing and planning process through writing sessions in English, where ideas are collected and developed. Children work in groups, pairs or individually to write narrative and non-narrative texts based on a range of appropriate genres. Grammar and punctuation are contextually taught within literacy, as well as being taught daily in 'SPaG' sessions (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar).

Objectives taught in literacy sessions are also used to develop writing across the curriculum and every Friday, children across the school take part in a 'Big Writing' session. This is a well developed approach which encourages oracy alongside writing development.